As land is lost to urban sprawl and other non-farm activity, our ability to produce food is diminished and options for future food production are limited. Farmland preservation speaks to the need to preserve the agricultural land base for future generations. The need for protection is driven by uncertainty caused by climate change, population growth, food security, energy availability, and other local and global factors. This uncertainty means that there is an ever-growing responsibility to ensure that the actions of today do not compromise the needs of future generations.

This second edition of Farmland Preservation provides a range of views and case studies from across Canada, the United States, and beyond. Its fourteen essays are intended to help the reader understand the importance of the issue and the potential for applying new approaches to agricultural protection, policy tools, and initiatives.

Wayne Caldwell is a Professor in Rural Planning at the University of Guelph. He is a Registered Professional Planner and is a passionate advocate for the betterment of rural communities. He has served as chair or president of a number of local, provincial, and national organizations.

Wayne J. Caldwell's profile page

Stew Hilts is Professor Emeritus, Department of Land Resource Science, at the University of Guelph and the former chair of the Ontario Farmland Trust.

Stew Hilts' profile page

Bronwynne Wilton works as a knowledge mobilization specialist in the agri-food sector and is an adjunct faculty at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph and was a founding board member of the Ontario Farmland Trust.

Bronwynne Wilton's profile page